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Telford College is open today across all our campuses. Please travel in safely. (12/01/2026).

PARENTS AND CARERS

Financial Support

IF YOUR CHILD IS AGED 16-18

  • No fees will be charged for enrolment to courses, tuition fees and exam costs
  • Costs may be payable on a voluntary basis for non-compulsory trips/visits, and uniform
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IF YOUR CHILD IS AGED 19-23

  • No fees will be charged for Maths and English if they do not have grade C/4 or above, if enrolling on their first eligible level 2 or 3 course
  • Reduced fees will be charged if they are enrolling on a level 2 or ESOL course
  • They could be entitled to a full reduction in fees if currently earning less than £25,000
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IF YOUR CHILD IS AGED 24+

  • No fees will be charged for Maths and English if they do not have grade C/4 or above
  • Reduced fees will be charged if they are enrolling on a level 2 or ESOL course
  • A learner loan will be required if they are enrolling on level 3 course
  • They could be entitled to a full reduction in fees if currently earning less than £25,000

If they are struggling to cover the cost of coming to college, we may be able to help.
Funds are available through one of two Government-backed bursaries – enhanced, and discretionary schemes – alongside free college meals.

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What is an enhanced bursary?

Students under 19 may be eligible for an enhanced bursary worth up to £1,200 per academic year if they are either:

  • Classed as a ‘Looked After’ child by the local authority
  • Have been ‘In Care’ and now classed as a ‘Care Leaver’
  • Receiving Income Support or Universal Credit in your own right
  • Receiving both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments in your own right

Students are not automatically entitled to £1,200 per year. We will assess the application to identify an actual financial need.

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What is a discretionary award?

If they do not qualify for an enhanced bursary, they may still be entitled to discretionary funds to help with the cost of coming to college.

We will need to see evidence of household income if they are aged between 16-18. If they are over 19 and living with you we will ask for their personal income.

We may be able to give you help towards the following (receipts needed for certain costs):

  • Travel expenses
  • Kit/uniform and materials essential for your course
  • Professional and exam fees
  • UCAS fees
  • Educational visits and workshops
  • Help with childcare fees when you are at college or placement
  • College meals (certain criteria apply)
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College meals

Students will be eligible for support towards the cost of food/drink while they are at college, if they are aged under 19 on August 31st of the year they start a course, and the criteria below is met:

Alongside their age, the student (if they are living independently) or their parents/guardians must be in receipt of one of the following: 

  • Income support

  • Anyone in receipt Universal Credit (UC) from September 2026

  • Income Based Jobseekers Allowance
  • Income related Employment Support Allowance
  • Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of less than £16,190 as assessed by HMRC. As a parent or carer, if you receive Working Tax Credits, the student is NOT entitled to free meals, regardless of income amount.
  • Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after someone stops qualifying for Working Tax Credit
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FAQS

By contacting our Financial Support Team, either by filling in our online form

We will assess your application to identify an actual financial need. We cannot pay any money up front, and will wherever possible, pay awards ‘in kind’ – giving a bus pass for instance, so they don’t need to find the money to pay for it.

Once you have uploaded all required evidence, your application may take up to 15 working days to process. We will email or write to you with a decision. Please ensure, where possible, that you submit your application in plenty of time before you start your course.

You will need to let us know your total household income, and provide evidence to prove your eligibility for the Discretionary Award. We do not take into account Child Benefit, DLA/PIP or Carer’s Allowance. Evidence could include:

  • All pages of 2022-2023 Tax Credits Awards or 2022 Tax Credits Review
  • Last 3 Universal Credit award statements showing how payments have been calculated
  • All pages of an Income Support/JSA/ESA awards letter, showing payments after April 2022
  • Audited accounts for the most recent tax year
  • Housing/Council Tax Benefit statement for 2022-2023
  • State Pension awards letter showing payments after April 2022
  • Payslips, or bank statements (for students who have no income)

If you are aged under 20 at the start of your course, you can apply to the government run Care To Learn scheme for help with your childcare fees. Please see https://gov.uk/care-to-learn

Yes. If you are refused funds, we will send you a letter giving details of how you can appeal.

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